Chapter 69

The Crown Prince’s Fiancée – Chapter 69

“I see.”

Arti nodded without a trace of prejudice.

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Arti nodded.

“It’s something you love, Marie, so I’d like to try to understand it, too.”

“Arti…”

Marie, deeply moved, sniffled.

“Are you an angel, by any chance?”

“Pardon? No, I’m not.”

“Sob. Arti, I love you!”

Patting the back of Marie, who had suddenly thrown her arms around her, Arti thought how emotionally expressive Marie was.

She had always been a good person, after all.

“You really must read them. You’ll never regret it! If anything, you’ll end up thanking me for introducing you to such a new world!”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, but since you’re lending them to me, I’ll enjoy reading them.”

“Then why not read them now, while we’re at it?”

“Pardon? Here?”

When Arti tilted her head, Marie nodded with an expectant look.

“I’m free right now. And I’m going to re-run this one.”

“What’s re-running?”

“It means reading it again from the beginning!”

“Haven’t you already read it?”

“I have!”

It seemed to mean the book was fun enough to read again, so Arti smiled quietly.

She could feel how much Marie loved that Estina-something novel.

‘The title is a bit strange, though.’

Arti’s gaze fell on the books Marie had pressed into her hands.

The I’m-the-hidden-princess-of-another-world one presented such a high barrier to entry from the title alone that, after some deliberation, the one Arti picked up was .

“So you’re starting with that one.”

“I like puppies.”

When Arti smiled bashfully, Marie laughed heartily.

“Enjoy your reading!”

“You, too, Marie.”

When she opened the thick book, black type printed on cream-colored paper met her eyes.

As she read the familiar text, Arti gradually sank into the story.

The protagonist, who had died by chance and been reborn as a puppy, was none other than the Emperor’s own puppy.

‘How could such a thing happen?’

It wasn’t that she didn’t find it strange, but it was fun. Imagined through a puppy’s eyes, every situation was simply cute and endearing.

As she read intently through the strange, unique perspective of the story, the hour of sunset arrived before she knew it.

“I’ve finished.”

When she confirmed the word “The End” and closed the book, Marie was watching her with interested eyes.

“So, how was it?”

“Hmm…”

Looking at Marie’s bright, shining eyes as she waited for her impressions, Arti searched for the right words.

“I don’t know what reincarnation is, but it was fun.”

“Oh, honestly. That’s not important!”

“And the Emperor is so kind. I’m glad he ended up with a good person.”

“Right?! As expected, kind men save the world.”

Marie nodded in satisfaction.

“But can there really be such a young Emperor? I don’t know much, but isn’t an Emperor usually past forty when he takes the throne?”

“It’s novelistic license. Stop thinking about that.”

“But…”

Arti tilted her head, still looking unconvinced. Then her gaze stopped on the novel Marie was nearly finished reading.

“Marie, what novel is that?”

“Oh, this one.”

Marie cleared her throat with an ahem and composed herself for a moment.

“It’s the story of a queen named Estina and her knights.”

“A story about a queen?”

“Yes. In the first volume, Queen Estina, back when she was still the crown prince, and her guard knight, who is also her first knight and the male lead, have liked each other since childhood, and it goes on from there.”

“How romantic.”

“Right? But this first knight goes missing during the war, and in the second volume the second knight, who was the second male lead in the first volume, starts becoming something or other with the queen in earnest…”

“Pardon?”

“The queen’s third knight is a reckless scoundrel, and one day the queen goes out incognito among the commoners, picks him up, and brings him back. The two of them end up liking each other, too.”

“…?”

“For the record, the third knight is my favorite. Next is the story of the fourth knight…”

Arti stopped Marie’s explanation for a moment.

“Surely she isn’t… dating all of them?”

“She is.”

“…”

Arti’s expression stiffened. When Arti began to edge quietly away, Marie panicked and clung tightly to her.

“No, wait! Arti, hear me out! There’s a reason for all of it!”

“But she’s dating all of them, isn’t she?”

“Hm? Uh-huh. Yes.”

“I see.”

“Yes…”

An awkward silence passed. Without a word, Marie handed over the first volume of .

Arti hesitated, but in the end she took the first volume. About an hour passed after she opened it.

“It’s fun.”

When Arti laughed happily, Marie nodded with a contented look.

“Right? Isn’t it fun?”

“Yes.”

“I want a polygamous household, too.”

Arti quietly agreed with Marie’s words.

“If there were seven men like this, I’d have to take them all in.”

“Exactly.”

The two girls pictured men who could never exist in reality and let out sighs full of regret.

* * *

Adrian had been in a poor mood lately.

He had been so busy digging into the Chancellor over the past few days that when he finally came to his senses, something felt empty.

What on earth was it that felt empty?

“Ah.”

He had been too busy to see Arti for a while.

He thought it over again, but sure enough, he hadn’t seen Arti.

To feel this hollow after merely a few days apart, it was a serious illness, as serious as they come.

“Shall I go see her for the first time in a while?”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t properly looked in on her since Essen became her guard knight.

The investigation into the Chancellor had reached a stopping point, and there was nothing urgent to deal with, so Adrian went to Lily Palace with a light heart.

“Madam Lucy, where’s Arti?”

“Oho ho ho, Miss Arti is in the library right now.”

“Is she reading?”

“Yes.”

Madam Lucy nodded with a meaningful look.

Adrian thought Madam Lucy was acting strange today, but in his eagerness to see Arti, he ignored it and headed for the library.

The library door was open. Adrian was just about to step inside when,

He froze.

From inside the open library door came Arti’s clear laughter.

“This is really fun, Marie.”

“Right? Right?!”

“I wish I had a man like this, too.”

At the wistful voice, Adrian’s grip tightened on the doorknob.

‘A man?’

What on earth was Arti talking about?

“Oh, wake up, Arti. He doesn’t exist in reality! That’s why it’s all a fantasy novel.”

“Still, don’t you think at least one of them might actually exist?”

“Wow, I hope so. And preferably mine!”

Marie shouted it and burst into giggles. Arti ended up laughing along with her.

“When I keep reading Estina, I start thinking, does true love really have to be just one person?”

“Right, right.”

“It would be so nice if our country allowed one wife to have many husbands, too.”

“I know.”

Hearing those deeply wistful voices, Adrian felt as though some cord inside him had snapped.

Once he found out the title of that book, he would have it designated a banned book.

He had just made that resolution and was about to go inside when,

“Adrian? When did you get here?”

“Essen.”

Quickly regaining his composure at the familiar voice, Adrian was now thrown into confusion by a sight he had never seen before.

“…What are you doing?”

Essen was carrying a tray of snacks and tea himself.

It was a sight Adrian could never have imagined from the Essen he knew, and he frowned in astonishment.

“What does it look like? Can’t you tell?”

Answering as bluntly as ever, Essen walked past Adrian into the library.

“Ladies, your long-awaited tea doth arrive.”

Essen’s clumsy attempt at archaic speech made Arti and Marie burst out laughing.

“Sir Essen! What was that!”

“What.”

“Sir Essen, you’re really funny.”

“Is that so? Good.”

Essen answered Marie coldly, but at Arti’s words he wiped away all the chill he had been giving off as if it had never existed and gave a smile as warm as a spring day.

“…?”

At Essen’s smile, which he was seeing for the first time, a sudden wave of displeasure washed over Adrian, and he shuddered.

As he pressed his temple to calm the displeasure, Essen turned to look at him.

“Why aren’t you coming in? What are you doing?”

At Essen’s words, it was Arti and Marie who were startled.

“Is someone there?”

“Oh my, Brother!”

Stepping into the library under the gaze of all three, Adrian frowned at the strangely titled books piled around Arti and Marie.

They had titles completely unlike the books Arti usually carried around.

‘These are surely… the ones Marie likes.’

When he shot Marie a sidelong glare, she smiled sweetly and offered him the seat beside her.

“Brother, when did you arrive? Please, sit here.”

Adrian widened the distance between himself and Marie.

“Since when do you speak politely to me?”

“Whatever do you mean, Brother? Ho ho. I’m always a well-mannered sister.”

‘Since when, exactly?’

Adrian frowned. Arti smiled and praised Marie.

“Marie is truly well-mannered.”

“Oh, of course, Arti!”

The behavior had clearly been aimed at Adrian, yet Marie’s eyes were fixed on Arti.

‘She’s putting on this whole show for Arti’s benefit.’

Adrian clicked his tongue. And just as he was about to begin questioning Marie in earnest about those strange books,

“Brother, we were just about to go for a walk. Would you like to join us?”

“A walk?”

Essen had only just brought the tea, and they were going for a walk right now?

Arti, too, tilted her head as if it were the first she’d heard of any walk.

Adrian was about to say something sharp about Marie’s transparent scheme when,

“Adrian, would you like to take a walk with us?”

“Yes. I’ll come.”

At Arti’s invitation, Adrian accepted by reflex.

* * *